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{No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. FfTARDIF 8: W. WE'I'HBRBD.

GAN LABBLING MAGHINB.

No. 524,916. PatentedAug. 21, .1894.

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- P. TARDIF & W. WET-HERBD.

CAN LABELING MACHINE.

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'(No` Model.)

GAN `LABELING. MACHINE.

Patented Aug. 21,1894.

- UNIT-ED i STATES .PATENT OFFICE FREDERICKTARDIFAND WOODWORTH WETHERED,OF SAN FRANCISCO,

CALIFORNIA, ASSIGrNORS4 TO SAID TARDIF AND LOUIS SLOSS, JR., OF

SAME PLACE.

CAN-LABELING MACHINE.

sPEoIFIcA'rIoN forming part of Leiters'. Patent No. 524,916, datedAugust 21, `1894.. Application led January 14 1393- Serial No'.4.58,396. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern: i

Beit known that we, FREDERICK TARDIF and WooDWoRTH WETHERED, citizens ofthe United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco,State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements1n Machinery for Aftixing Labels on Cans or other Cylindrical Packages;and we hereby of the label, and then on the overlapping end thereof,means of feeding or presenting the labels, stretching and disposing thesame with exactness around the can or package, and forming a completejoint at the lap where the ends meet.

Our invention includes for this purpose varions mechanical devices andfunctions that will be pointed out and explained in connection with thedrawings herewith, in which- F1gure 1 is a side elevation, partially insectlon, showing a labeling machine constructed according to ourinvention. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same machine. Fig. 3 is apartial plan view showing the top of the runway, and

some of its connected'details. Fig. 4 is an enlarged partial sectionthrough the mechanism for pasting the lap of the labels. Fig..5 is anenlarged view of a distributing valve or tube for applying paste ou thelap of the labels. Fig. 6 is an end view of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is anenlarged view, partially in section, throughV the mechanism fordistributing the paste over the exterior of the cans, and for the innerside of the labels. Fig. 8 is a transverse section through one of theadjustable guides for holding and adjusting the labels as they arepresented for pasting. Fig. 9 is a section throughthe label-supportingtable, showing the arrangementof adj ustable guides or gages toaccommodate the varying widths of ,the labels. Fig. 10 is an enlargedtransverse section through the devices for pasting the lap of the label.j Fig. 11 is au enlarged detail perspective View showing theconstruction and arrangement of the paste hopper and the leveragemechanism for operating the valve which is located in the bottom of saidhopper.

Similar figures of reference denote corresponding parts in the diderentigures of the drawings. 'y

The main supporting frame (l) We make preferably of metal tubes, joinedand connected as shown, the whole being 'mounted on casters (2) so themachine can be readily moved about or out of the way when not in use. i

On the top of the main frame (1) are placed two cross rails (3) attachedto the two members (4). Fasten'ed to these two rails (3) are verticalstandards (5) on which is pivoted at (7) the main table or run-way (6)containing the principal mechanism of the machine.`

This main table or frame (6) is set adj ustably in an inclined ordiagonal position as shown in Fig. 1, so the cans orvpackages (8) arefed in on` a chute (9) and rollk through the machine, their gravityperforming the various operations of pasting and applying the labels, aswill be 'hereinafter explained.

On the top of the machine is provided a tank (10) to contain paste orother liquid mucilaginous matter that can be drawn oftl as required bythe faucets (11) into the hoppers (12) and (13), from where it isdistributed to the exteriorv of the cans at (14) andto the lap of thelabels at (15).

j The labels (16) to be applied are placed on the platen (17) which isthe top part of a triangular frame composed of members (17) (18) (19) asshown in Fig. 1. This frame rests on the rollers (20) bearing on thepivoted cam levers (21) and is free to move up or down as these leversare raised or depressed, moving precisely parallel by reason of thelinks (22), attachedto a crosshead (23), which slides up and down on therod (24;). The cam-levers (21) are formed at their top with a cam shape,or a developed curve, where they bear on the rollers (20), as shown iuFig. 1, so that as the levers assume differentnpositions, or as the`weighted ends (27) descend, the upward pressure on the rollers (20),andon the platen (16), will be uniform irrespective of the angle at whichthe levers stand. The shape of this curve on the bearing ends of thelevers (21) is made to a developed curve so that the upward pressure andleverage is uniform irrespective of the angle at whichthe levers standroo e meer@ kand can be made to compensate for the diminishing weight ofthe labels as the platen 17 ascends. We are aware that such levers areknown and used for a similar purpose, vbut of the simple kind exerting aforce de` pendention their angular position, and thus lnsure a perfectlyuniform pressure and rev sistance to the withdrawal of the labels (16)from beneath the tube (34). y

On the rod (24) is placed a coil spring (25) which in part supports theweight of the label frame, or compensates for the weight of s thelabels, as the thumb nut (26) is adjusted up or down, but the main partof the weight of this label frame, and labels on the platen (17) rest onthe levers (21) which have counrter-balancing weights (27)'at theirouter ends as shown. The mechanism just described maintains a constantand uniform upward thrust on the platen (17) causing it to rise as thelabels are removed. I

Besides the links (22) there are provided at each side corner-guides(28), shown in section at Fig. 8, which serve to steady the platen (17),and also to adjust the pile of labels laterally at that end, so as toconform to the po-v sition of the runway (6).

The angle ,or inclination of the platen (17) is made adjustable by meansof the movable member (29), and any tendency to downward movement,caused by the weight of the cans (8) rolling over the top of the labels(16), is checked by the pawl or detent (30) held in position by thespring (3l) or by any other suitable means to prevent reaction of theplaten 17. The angle of the main table or 'frame (6) is adjustable bymeans of the slotted strut (3.2).held by the bolt or screw (36). o

To provide for variation in the width of the labels, there areadjustable guides (48), shown in the section Fig. 9, and also in theplan view, Fig. 3. These guides or gages (48) are supported on the bars(49), adjustably 'attached to the rails at (71), orin any other suitablemanner so as to be adjustable transverse lto the platen (17), by meansof the screws (50), so the labels (16) when of different widths are keptcentral with respect to the platen (17) and the cans (8).

Referring nowl tol the devices for applying the paste, the hopper (12),Figs. 1 and 7,*is with the hinged wiper or distributing brush (6]),supported by radial arms 51 rigidly secured at their ends upon thebrackets 56 fastened to the top of the frame or runway 61- see Fig. 11.This hopper (l2) is formed integrally with ya cylindrical lshell or pipe(52), into which. is tted a valve or tube '(53) corresponding in mostrespects to the one (33), shown in the enlarged view Fig.'5providedwithslots or perforations (54) (55) the former coinciding with 'the slot(76) in the ou tershell or tube (52) where the paste is discharged. Thistube has an oscillating movement, and ispperated automatically by meansof the bellcranks (57), which is pivoted to the brackets 56 links, (58),and lever (59), as shownin the side View, Fig. 1. The bell cranks arepivotally mounted upon the uprights 56. The

rear arms 57 of these bell cranks are pivoted to the upper ends of thelinks 58, there being a connection 70 between the outer ends of Theforward arms vof the bell cranks are attached by means of links 8l tothe slotted arms 82, which are affixed to the paste-distributing tube.When the bell cranks oscillate, these links 8l by acting on the arms 82,rotate the paste-distributing valve in the proper manner as will'biehereinafter explained. This lever (59) is actuated by the gravity of thecans (8) rolling over and depressing the end (60) ofthe lever (59), atthe same time by means of the linkageI just described, causing a partialrotation of the tube (53), and permitting intermittentlyLas each canpasses, a quantity of paste to escape from the hopper (12) on the cans(8), and tothe brush or wiper .(61), thus covering uniformly a portionof the circumference of the cans with paste, in such position that lasthecan rolls on down the inclosed `runway (.6) the pasted portion of thecircumference comes in contact at (62) with the pile of labels (16).

In' Fig. 7, a can is shown directly beneath .the paste valve, which isrepresented as closed so that no paste can issue therefrom. This can hasjust arrived at this position, and simultaneously with its being there,the preceding can is depressing the end 60 of lever 59 which results inopening the paste-valve and discharging the paste upon the surface ofthe can which is directly below said valve andit also results in liftingthe detent and allowing the following can to pass beneath the same. Thepaste-valve 53 is therefore not opened until a can gets directly beneathit. Then itis opened sufficiently long to permit the ,discharge ofenough paste upon a portion of the surface of the can. Then it closes asthe can leaves it and the wiper 6l spreads the paste over the cansurface. The pasted can rolls on toward the end 60 of lever 59 and as itstrikes and depresses it, resulting in again lifting thedetent,'thefollowing can which was admitted at the previous lifting ofthe detent, will have arrived at the position shown in Fig. 7, where itis ready t receive its coat of paste, while the next following can willbe admitted past the detent. At the same time the lever (59)isdepressed, and as the can, being pasted, passes the wiper (61) thedetent (70) formed on the bell crank (57) is raised, permitting anothercan' to follow, asl indicated in Fig. 1,v so the operation goes onintermittently and automatically. The outer label adheres to the can (8)and is wrapped around itsperiphery as the can'rolls on, to the positionindicated in the enlarged view Fig. 4, the label extending from,` (63)to (64) Qn thecan as indicated,

Referring next toipasting the lap of the labels, and especially toFigs.'2 and 4, liquid paste or mucilaginous matter is fed from the TIOhopper (12) by gravity alone, but, from theV hoppers orfunnels (13), bymeans of compressing cylinders (37) and pistons (38), one of which isshown in section in Fig. 2. The paste falls from the tank() into thefunnels (13), and thence through the pipes (39) until the cylinders`(37)are filled, then the cocks (40) are closed and the weight of the pistons(38) andtheir connected parts rests on the iuid (41) forcing it downinto the pipe Vor cylinder (34), and out at the perforations i (35) and(42) on the inner surface of the label (43), being pasted, as shown inFig. 4. The

` liquid enters the tube (33) through inlet apertures (44), shown in theenlarged View Fig. 5. These apertures (44) coincide when yin workingposition with the two pipes (45) leading from the cylinders (37) to thehorizontal pipe (34), Fig. 2. In case of obstruction in the slot (35),in the tube (33), this slot is turned `to coincide with one (46) in thepipe required tension of the label (43). The can then rolls on toreceive the final operation of pressing down and smoothing the lap `at(67) Figs. 1 and 10, where the hinged and Iiexible pressing pad (68)performs thispress.- ing and smoothing operation, and is at the end ofthe lap of the label, lifted cleanof the can by means of the wiper (69).These' devices arey mounted on a hinged lever receiving light pressurefrom a spring 96, as shown in Fig. 10. From here the cau rolls offcompleted. The .lever 75 when near its horizontal position rests on` alug or `pin 97 which keeps it from dropping too low after the can haspassed. The wiper arm 69 eX- tends down wardesomewhat below the pressingpad 68 so that `as the can rolls beneath the arm 69, it will lift saidarmand consequently lift` the pad 68 clear of the can so that in thisway at the end of the lapofwthe label the presser is lifted 0E the can.The arm 69 is therefore so timed or placed in respect to the pad 68 thatthe latter islfted clear of the lap in order that any paste pressed outof the lap will not adhere to the pad and thus prevent it from slippingfreely over the following can. This is more clearly seen by referringtothe enlarged detail sectional View, Fig. 10. This wiper 69 is thought toserve a useful purpose because it clears the pad 68 from the can as soonas the pressing operation is ended and prevents the pad f rom uselesslyrubbing upon the can surface after it leaves the Ilabel and roo therebyretarding the free rolling movement of the can. In these variousoperations it will be seen that the only operative force employed is thegravity of the cans, which force is controlled by the inclination of therunway ro5 This depends upon the fluidity of the paste used and we neednot include such devices in` our present invention. The pointer 47 isafffixed to the tube 33 near the end thereof as issy clearly shown inFig, 5. When the apertures 44'in the tube 33, coincide with the supplylpipes 45, the pointer 47 will be in its vertical` position as shown inFig. 6 where it points to the figure 2.

will be delivered upon the labels. ing the tube 33 to one side or theother and placing the pointer upon figures `I or 3, the` Valve can beclosed and the discharge of paste stopped.

from beneath the tube where it has been i exposed to the paste, issuingthrough the aperture (42). At the same time some tension is given thelabel by the roller (65), which if required, may also be covered withpaste by means of a slot (66) in the pipe (34), and a corresponding slotin tube The upward thrustof the platen (17) presses the labels (16)against the pipe (34), causingby friction there enough force to stretchthe label as shown. The tension of the label tends to revolve the can onits axis and canseit to slip on the runway (6). This we prevent whenrequired by roughening the surface of the runway as at 77 in Fig. 4 bymeans of sand paper, gum cloth or any other suitable sub-` stance toincrease the traction of the can, and thus 'resist the slippingactionand permit the When in this position the slot` 35 will coincide with theslot 42, so that paste( By tnrn`r (6), and feeding frame (9), and thatthe prolcesses are asrapid as the rolling movement,

and required distance betweenthe cans will permit, also that theoperation of the machine is automatic and continuous when once ad- 11o yjusted, until the stockgof labels on the'platen (17) is exhausted.

" Having thus described the nature and objects of our invention and themethod of-constructing and applying the same, what we x15 claim as new,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a can-labeling machine, an'inclined gravity runway provided withpaste-distributing apparatus for the outsideof the cans, izo

consisting of a hopper, slotted outer and inner tubes beneath andconnected with the hopper, as herein described, the innerA or supplyingtube operated by a lever acted upon by the rolling cans, so as to permita discharge of paste for each can that passes, in the man-` nersubstantiallyv and for the purposes described.

2. In a can-labeling machine, an inclined runway down which the cans mayroll' by their 13o ofpaste'as each can passes, a'lever for operatingthis tube and acting coincidently therewith, a detent that Will permit acan to pass beneath the paste distributing apparatus each time a canrolls away from the same and -over the operating lever, substantially inthe manner describe 3. In a can-labeling machine, an inclinedfriction,and permit a free upward movementv of the platen as the labels areremoved from its top, and spring connections arranged between theWeighted levers so as to have a `V yielding action thereon in the mannersubstantially as andfor the purposes specified.

4 In a can-labeling machine, an inclined adjustable runway down whichthe cans may roll; paste-distribiiting devices, as herein described, forapplying paste to the exterior of the can and to the lap of the labels;a labelsupporting platen or platform beneath supported by weighted camlevers and held in pos ition longitudinaliy by means of links; avertical guiding crosshead and rod, a spring around this rod so theupward pressure of the latter, acting on the links, will prevent. anyplayin the joints, and thus maintain a steady position of thelabel-supporting platen, in the manner substantially as described andfor the purposes set forth. 5.l In a can-labeling machine, an adjustableinclined runway down which the cans will roll by their gravity;paste-distributing apparatus in connection therewith for the exterior ofthe cans and also for the lap of the labels; an adjustably-supportedlabel platen o r platform beneath the runway sustained by means ofweighted cam levers bearing at or near .the corners thereof, the platenadjustable in respect to its supports so its inclination can be made tocoincide with or suit the position of the runway, if the latter be setat greater or less inclination so the rolling cans will press upon thelabels with the required force to cause the latter to adhere,'in themanner and for the purposes substantially as described.

. 6. In a can labeling machine, the combination of an inclined runwayadjustably supported on the main frame, paste distributing apparatus'for the exterior of the cans and for the lap substantially as described,a labelsupporting platen or platform, weighted levers for sustaining thesame so as to raise and present the labels to the'can as they roll overthe said platform, and side gages or guides supported on bars adjustably attached to the rails of the main frame so as to be transverselyadjustable to the. platen by screws so that the labels may be heldcentrally with respect to the runway and the rolling cans irrespectiveof such variations in the width of the labels as occur in preparing thesame, substantially as described.

'7.'In a can-labeling machine, as herein described, paste-distributingapparatus for the laps of the labels, consisting of a slotted outer pipeor tube and a slotted adjustable inner tube fitting therein, the innerpipe having inlets for the liquid paste, and an outlet slot in contactwith the laps of the labels to be prepared, and the outer tube having aclearing slot whereby the perforations in the inner tube can'beinspected and cleared when the latter is turned in a position to shutoff the supply of paste from the outer tube, in the manner and for thepurposes substantially as described.

8. In a can-labeling machine, a runway for the cans, inclined inposition so the cans by their gravity will roll down and perform thelabel-pasting operations herein described, in combination therewithapparatus for applying paste to the exterior of the can and to the lapof the labels, as hereinshown, a hinged pressing pad to fold andcompress the laps of the labels, formed integrally with a wiperconnected with the pressing pad, and depending alongside of and below itso as to be struck by the can as it leaves the pad, the result of whichcontact will lift the pad clear of the label and can when the end of thelabel is reach ed, in the manner substantially as herein set forth anddescribed.

9. In a can-labeling 'or other machine, a feeding platform havingvertical adjustment and thrust, supported on cam levers, the bear` ingsurfaces of which are formed with a curve, as herein described, so theupward pressure will be uniform at all angles within the levers range;links, to produce parallel movement and a sliding cross head to hold thefeeding platen or platform level, and thus presenting the function ofguides or slides for the same, in the manner substantially and for thepurposes described.

l0. In a can-labeling machine, the combination of a runway, alabel-supporting platform, the pivoted and weighted levers bearingbeneath said platform, the links connected to said levers and a springacting on said links to cause anfupward pressure on the label platform,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto affixed our signatures in thepresence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK TARDIF. WOODWORTH WETHERED.

Witnesses:

ALFRED A. ENQUIsT, WILSON D. BENT, Jr.

